Someone else is cooking? I just might have to take you up on that offer!

‘Prepare’ would’ve been a better word to use.

He’s in fifth grade now. How could you expect anything less?

All in one minute after OP.

I would’ve voted for a phoenix to get a similar meaning across. But given the history that you’ve explained, I can see your point. On a side note, good luck in your basic training wherever you might be.

I actually bought you a large fish, an airline ticket to his home in Kansas, and called the number for you to fake spank the kid then eat. Unfortunately, the number that I dialed was not a working number and was not in service.

Mildly but not excruciatingly.

I’m happy for Poland, truly. But good grief, the bird looks like a blood-stained pigeon that got run over by a Mack truck. I know they want to honor their history but I hope making a mental association between freedom and roadkill wasn’t the feeling they were trying to evoke.

It’s a fundraiser for community organizations. Lots of work but should be a good one!

Yikes. Bad word choice! I was speaking in general about pouncing in with comments. I’m organizing a volunteer event for tomorrow. Off to do setup and prep today. (Dear FBI, NSA and CIA - I swear I was not making suggestive comments to a minor!)

@spiderwoman And while I’m belaboring the point - ‘most’ of the guys who I know with their own galleries which I would call ‘making it’ (1) are older, I can’t think of one in his 20s for sure (2) sidestepped into art after building careers and names in peripheral industries like architecture, interior design, working for a major fashion house, or commercial art (3) had money when they started or have a wealthy partner, and (4) are all men. I’m not saying you can’t ‘make it’ by starting from the ground up. But if those characteristics aren’t you, then it can be a lot tougher to do so from what I can see.

Wolves know how to stalk their prey. Always around, just out of sight, watching and waiting for the right moment to pounce. Except for this weekend. I have stuff to do.

‘...and your pesky dog!’

@spiderwoman My ‘common knowledge’ comes from living alongside artists and actors in a heroin-strewn neighborhood that somehow still has absurd rents. I actually see and discuss ‘the hustle’ every day. My point is that you shouldn’t have to work as a waiter, an Uber driver, and also a substitute teacher on the side to fund your passion until you ‘make it.’ I’m talking about doing your art full time in your desired specialty on your schedule and being able to live on it. Not doing graphic design to make ends meet when you want to be a painter. Not having to debate do I take this menial office job for a steady paycheck but then I can’t go to auditions. Unless you come to the scene with connections or just get absolutely effing lucky, living independently off of your work can take YEARS to do. The runway to success in the arts seems to be a lot longer than that for, say, your run of the mill commercial entrepreneur. And as I said, I don’t think it should have to be like that.

In my mind - you’re both right. I see the struggle for you two in my city every day. Far more talented trans fighting for scrap roles. Artists grimacing while hobbyists get more credibility than they deserve. I honestly think succeeding in your profession requires more heart than most ‘normal’ humans have. Artists shouldn’t have to produce for 20-30 years before they *maybe* get discovered. They’re respectable jobs that don’t paid. And for roles that bring a little bit of light to humanity, I sometimes question whether that’s the right way to do it.

Can you both please recognize the fact that autocorrect ruined my first comment like it ruined my text to the animal shelter about how much I want to anal rape, er, adopt a stray dog?

Hmm. Truth be told, I never would have guessed that about you.